72 | T T Kelly Deeks 30 years of building aluminium trailer boats Captain - Dan and Marks 770s in action. Napier-based Senator Boats is celebrating 30 years of building aluminium trailer boats designed to handle some of the toughest conditions New Zealand waters can deliver, with the business now setting its sights on further growth across the Tasman. The company officially launched its 30th anniversary celebrations at the 2026 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in May, marking three decades since founder Wayne McKinley established the business. For managing director Grant Simmonds, the milestone is an opportunity to reflect on Senator’s evolution since he acquired the company nine years ago. “When I bought Senator in 2017, the business had already been operating for 19 years, and Wayne left me with some really skilled people and some great boat designs,” Grant says. “Those hull shapes have become a significant part of our signature, and that is not something we are changing. We are focused on improving the look, feel, and usability of our boats while staying true to what Senator has always been about.” Founded in 1996, Senator has built its reputation around rugged aluminium chamber boats, with designs focused on safety, performance, and reliability in challenging conditions. The company has become one of New Zealand’s leading trailer boat manufacturers, and Grant says the ambition is to be recognised as the market leader in both New Zealand and Australia. The company began exporting to Australia six years ago during Covid, a move that has since grown into a network of seven dealers across the country. Grant says the response was immediate. MANUFACTURING Senator Boats “I rang our dealer in Perth and asked if he was happy with our boats, and he said there was only one problem, he needed more boats.” While the marine industry has faced significant pressure from rising costs, economic uncertainty, and reduced consumer spending, Senator has continued to invest in its people and processes. Grant says maintaining the company’s skilled team and having standard operating procedures has been critical to protecting the knowledge and craftsmanship behind the brand. “When a company restructures and cuts staff, it damages its culture and it damages its quality. We are not perfect, but we have an incredible team of skilled, knowledgeable people with great character.” A key part of Senator’s ongoing improvement has been the introduction of lean manufacturing principles throughout the business. Three times a week, the team stops production for half an hour to focus on improvements, organisation, and removing inefficiencies. “It takes a lot of courage to stop working, but after doing it for 18 months, our factory is so much more organised and functional,” Grant says. Innovation is also central to Senator’s future, with the business recently creating a New Product Development and Introduction role to support the next generation of boats. The role builds on the company’s existing expertise, including the Mission Modular System, which allows owners to adapt their boat for fishing, family boating, diving, or watersports without the premium price tag of a fully customised vessel. Congratulations to the entire Senator Boats team on this milestone. Here’s to 30 years of ruling the sea and to many more adventures ahead! www.seathru.co.nz Specialists in the design and fabrication of windows and windscreens for boats and yachts. With more than 37 years in the business, we have accumulated a large range of templates and designs throughout the New Zealand market. Customers are at the forefront of our priorities, and this is reflected in our promise of delivering in full, on time. Your trusted, customer focused supplier of carbon, stainless, engineering steels and aluminium. W WW . V U L C A N . C O After 30 years, Grant says Senator’s focus remains on building dependable boats that can withstand demanding conditions. “We have been building boats that can get through the rough stuff for 30 years, and we are building a business that can get through the rough stuff as well,” he says. “We want to keep doing that for the next 30.”
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